[teeman8r]

but the states that didn’t secede could keep their slaves?

the emancipation proclamation only freed the slaves in occupied southern territories, or am i mistaken.

t

[HiTech RedNeck]

That’s true — it was a kneecapping move. Here’s where we could fault the North for not banning it sooner. But embroiled in a war, the North would have found that more difficult than waiting till after the war.

[OIFVeteran]

Because it was unconstitutional for Lincoln to free them in states that had not rebelled. That would take a constitutional amendment. Lincoln had the constitutional authority to declare slaves “contraband of war” in states that were in rebellion.

[Pikachu_Dad]

Lincoln could only free the slaves by declaration in rebellious areas.

That was why Lincoln pushed and got passed the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution.

That ended the democrats evil pernicious system.